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Friday, February 10, 2012

Leading@Google: Susan Cain (Introverts)

Susan Cain stopped by Google to talk about her new book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. As a member of the 1/3 of the population who is introverted, this sounds like a book I might benefit from, although I have long ago learned to manage my introversion as best as I can - and to respect that I am not able to do some of the things that extroverts do easily.

At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over brainstorming in teams. Although they are often labeled "quiet," it is to introverts that we owe many of the great contributions to society--from van Gogh's sunflowers to the invention of the personal computer.

Passionately argued, impressively researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet shows how dramatically we undervalue introverts, and how much we lose in doing so. Taking the reader on a journey from Dale Carnegie's birthplace to Harvard Business School, from a Tony Robbins seminar to an evangelical megachurch, Susan Cain charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal in the twentieth century and explores its far-reaching effects. She talks to Asian-American students who feel alienated from the brash, backslapping atmosphere of American schools. She questions the dominant values of American business culture, where forced collaboration can stand in the way of innovation, and where the leadership potential of introverts is often overlooked. And she draws on cutting-edge research in psychology and neuroscience to reveal the surprising differences between extroverts and introverts.

Perhaps most inspiring, she introduces us to successful introverts--from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. Finally, she offers invaluable advice on everything from how to better negotiate differences in introvert-extrovert relationships to how to empower an introverted child to when it makes sense to be a "pretend extrovert."

This extraordinary book has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how introverts see themselves.

Q: Why did you write the book? A: For the same reason that Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique
in 1963. Introverts are to extroverts what women were to men at that
time--second-class citizens with gigantic amounts of untapped talent.
Our schools, workplaces, and religious institutions are designed for
extroverts, and many introverts believe that there is something wrong
with them and that they should try to “pass” as extroverts. The bias
against introversion leads to a colossal waste of talent, energy, and,
ultimately, happiness.

Q: What personal significance does the subject have for you?A:
When I was in my twenties, I started practicing corporate law on Wall
Street. At first I thought I was taking on an enormous challenge,
because in my mind, the successful lawyer was comfortable in the
spotlight, whereas I was introverted and occasionally shy. But I soon
realized that my nature had a lot of advantages: I was good at building
loyal alliances, one-on-one, behind the scenes; I could close my door,
concentrate, and get the work done well; and like many introverts, I
tended to ask a lot of questions and listen intently to the answers,
which is an invaluable tool in negotiation. I started to realize that
there’s a lot more going on here than the cultural stereotype of the
introvert-as-unfortunate would have you believe. I had to know more, so I
spent the past five years researching the powers of introversion.

Q: Was there ever a time when American society valued introverts more highly?A:
In the nation’s earlier years it was easier for introverts to earn
respect. America once embodied what the cultural historian Warren Susman
called a “Culture of Character,” which valued inner strength,
integrity, and the good deeds you performed when no one was looking. You
could cut an impressive figure by being quiet, reserved, and dignified.
Abraham Lincoln was revered as a man who did not “offend by
superiority,” as Emerson put it.

Q: You discuss how we can better embrace introverts in the workplace. Can you explain? A:
Introverts thrive in environments that are not
overstimulating—surroundings in which they can think (deeply) before
they speak. This has many implications. Here are two to consider: (1)
Introverts perform best in quiet, private workspaces—but unfortunately
we’re trending in precisely the opposite direction, toward open-plan
offices. (2) If you want to get the best of all your employees’ brains,
don’t simply throw them into a meeting and assume you’re hearing
everyone’s ideas. You’re not; you’re hearing from the most vocally
assertive people. Ask people to put their ideas in writing before the
meeting, and make sure you give everyone time to speak.

Q: Quiet
offers some terrific insights for the parents of introverted children.
What environment do introverted kids need in order to thrive, whether
it’s at home or at school? A: The best
thing parents and teachers can do for introverted kids is to treasure
them for who they are, and encourage their passions. This means: (1)
Giving them the space they need. If they need to recharge alone in their
room after school instead of plunging into extracurricular activities,
that’s okay. (2) Letting them master new skills at their own pace. If
they’re not learning to swim in group settings, for example, teach them
privately. (3) Not calling them “shy”--they’ll believe the label and
experience their nervousness as a fixed trait rather than an emotion
they can learn to control.

Q: What are the advantages to being an introvert?A:
There are too many to list in this short space, but here are two
seemingly contradictory qualities that benefit introverts: introverts
like to be alone--and introverts enjoy being cooperative. Studies
suggest that many of the most creative people are introverts, and this
is partly because of their capacity for quiet. Introverts are careful,
reflective thinkers who can tolerate the solitude that idea-generation
requires. On the other hand, implementing good ideas requires
cooperation, and introverts are more likely to prefer cooperative
environments, while extroverts favor competitive ones.